Hapoel Be'er Sheva Nears Record-Breaking UEFA Champions League Prize Money

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Sabah in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff on Wednesday at 22:00, with a historic financial reward at stake. If Be'er Sheva eliminates Sabah and advances to the group stage, the club will secure the largest prize ever awarded to an Israeli team, totaling approximately 18.9 million euros (around 64 million shekels).

The club had already guaranteed 8.6 million euros by reaching the playoff and securing a spot in the UEFA Europa League group stage. This sum includes two main payments: 4.29 million euros for the playoff and 4.31 million euros for the Europa League group stage. Advancing to the Champions League group stage would add 10.72 million euros more, including a 17.87 million euro payment and an additional 750,000 euros, plus 275,000 euros based on the club's UEFA coefficient ranking.

This potential windfall would surpass the 15.64 million euros Maccabi Haifa received in the 2022/23 season, even considering currency exchange rate differences and Haifa's home games being played in Israel rather than Europe. The total prize money nearly doubles the current squad's market value of 18.05 million euros, according to Transfermarkt.

Be'er Sheva can still strengthen its roster before the UEFA registration deadline on September 2, with plans to sign a foreign central defender and an attacking midfielder to replace Kings Kangwa. The club currently has six foreign players signed, with the possibility of adding two more, depending on player departures.

Additional bonuses include 2.1 million euros per win and 700,000 euros per draw in the group stage. Progressing to the knockout rounds would yield an extra 1 million euros, and reaching the round of 16, the best achievement by an Israeli club, would bring an additional 11 million euros. Overall, Be'er Sheva is on track to receive the highest UEFA prize money ever awarded to an Israeli football club.